Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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554. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that the spouses of migrant workers on general work permits are able to access a work permit in the way that spouses of migrant workers on the critical skills list can do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57686/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The rules applying to beneficiaries of critical skills and general work permit holders are determined by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I am not aware of any plans by that Department to amend the rules attaching to those granted a general employment permit.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the current provisions, a spouse/de facto partner of a critical skills employment permit holder can join their spouse in the State at the same time as their arrival in the State and on registration at their local Registration office they may apply for a Stamp 1G permission. However, the spouse of a general permit holder must wait 12 months before making such an application to join their spouse in the State.

It remains open for the spouse or de facto partner of a general employment permit holder to join their partner in the State at the same time by making an application in their own right for an employment permit, details available on www.enterprise.gov.ie or an immigration permission that does not rely on spousal dependency. If that application is granted it would entitle the holder to make an application for the appropriate employment visa, if a visa required national, to travel to the State. On arrival in the State they can register their employment permit at their local registration office where they will be granted a Stamp 1 immigration permission.

Officials of my Department will, as part of their general immigration policy brief, be reviewing the status of permissions given to spouses/partners of immigration permission holders across the range of immigration programmes to ensure that they have proper regard for the for the ability of spouses and partners to participate appropriately in economic and social activity.

Details of other pathways for entry to the State can be found on www.irishimmigration.ie.